Effects of radioactive decay on the autonomous replicatin of anEscherichia coli episome

Summary

TheE. coli episomeF13 loses its capacity for autonomous replication when the integrity of the molecule is impaired by the decay of32P atoms incorporated into its polynucleotide chains. Upon further division of the host bacteria, the distal fragments near the episomal terminus are eliminated, whereas, the proximal fragments near the episomal origin may survive as heterogenotes attached to the host chromosome.